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It felt like all two hundred pairs of eyes swiveled in Claire’s direction as soon as she appeared. Nerves almost stalled her feet but she forced herself to keep moving. This was the first time she was meeting the Elves, her people. She had interacted with a limited few over the last week. Some faces were stoic but others had hope shining brightly in their eyes. So much hope it made Claire’s heart ache for them.
A small tendril of warmth unfurled in her stomach, fighting the nerves back. These were her people.Hers. Most of them had never met her and yet they looked at her with so much hope.
While a small voice in Claire’s head tried to whisper that it was misplaced, Claire shoved it down. She could do this. She could connect to the Royal Tree, find out who was behind all of these recent attacks and maybe, just maybe, she could help the Elves step out of the Forest and back into the Realm. Laying it out in steps like that seemed easy to list but Claire knew it wasn’t going to be that easy. And the first step, connecting with the Royal Tree, loomed tall in front of her now. Surrounded by people, her people, who were relying on her. She couldn’t let them down.
Greta led them through the crowd. Malcolm was still at her side while Desmond and Everett were on their heels. Puck had taken up residence on Everett’s shoulder but his bond thrummed with warmth and Claire appreciated the comfort.
Toan stood in front of the crowd waiting for them. He held out his hand and Claire released Malcolm to take his. Greta joined the other Elders standing off to the side.
“Ready?” Toan asked softly.
“Ready,” Claire said. As she’ll ever be.
The Elders with Greta turned towards the tree and started chanting. Claire noticed a small stone column, about waist height right behind the Elders. A small fire burned at the top of it, the flames flickering brightly despite an obvious lack of fuel. Magic. A small cauldron hung above the flames with a liquid bubbling inside. Claire had a feeling she was going to have to drink that and bit her lip.
The Elders’ chanting continued and a shimmering ward started from the ground six feet from the Royal Tree. Its white shimmering light rose slowly until it seemed like the entire tree was encased in the shimmering ward.
Claire frowned. Was the Royal Tree being protected from Claire or was Claire being protected from the tree?
One of the Elders, a male Elf, noticed her frown. “The connection can be violent at times. The ward keeps all parties safe.”
“What do you mean violent?” Malcolm growled as all three of her men pressed closer. His eyes were a bright gold as his dragon threatened to come through.
“She will be fine,” Toan said, motioning with his hand for them to move back.
Claire knew from Greta this morning that the connection might be slightly painful but she kept her mouth shut. Malcolm looked like his dragon was about to force a shift at any moment. Desmond must have picked up on the same as he grabbed Malcolm’s shoulder.
“Keep it together or I can knock you out,” he hissed so the gathered Elves couldn’t hear him. “We can’t have your big clumsy ass squishing anyone. You’ll upset Claire if that happens.”
“Malcolm,” Claire said softly. His intense stare snapped to her. “It’ll be fine. I’ll be fine.”
A low growl still rumbled in his throat but he moved back reluctantly. Everett and Desmond flanked him as if they might need to grab him at any moment.
One of the Elders and Greta moved towards the caldron. Greta held a jeweled chalice underneath the cauldron as the other Elder removed it and poured the steaming liquid into the chalice. Greta muttered a few words and the steam rising from the liquid vanished.
Toan squeezed Claire’s hand once and released her when Greta beckoned. Claire could feel the weight of all the eyes in the clearing on her as she walked over to Greta and accepted the chalice.
“Do you, Arielle Clarissa Mayfaire, accept this chalice brewed with our most sacred plants and with it, the weight of your people?”
“I do.”
“Do you promise to protect our Forest, the trees that sustain us and give us life and guard it from all who wish it harm?”
“I do.”
“Do you promise to protect your people and guide them with fairness and compassion?”
“I do.”
“Then accept this chalice and bind with the Royal Tree. If the Forest should find you worthy, then so do the Elves.”
Claire took a deep breath and blew it out slowly as she accepted the chalice. She was still nervous. Her stomach felt like Puck on a magic high with its nervous flutters but more than that, she wanted this to go well. She imagined this might be what Winona felt like when she went through this. Her mother loved these people and ultimately gave her life to protect them.
Now, it was Claire’s turn.
She brought the chalice to her lips and drank. The liquid was neither cool nor warm, neither bitter nor sweet.
This is what Claire imagined balance might taste like.
